
Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Thank you to everyone who helped with Hugh Wallace’s service and reception last week. Your prayers, presence, and contributions were a blessing and ministered to many.
Please take a look at the week’s announcements.
Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash
WORSHIP
The preacher for this Sunday’s 10 am service will be Sister Deborah Francis from the Community of St. John Baptist. Welcome, Sister!
Easter Season is filled with days of special focus as we continue to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and the renewal of creation. Looking ahead:
Next Week: Rogation Sunday, 5/26 – 10:00 am, blessing of the Church grounds and gardens.
Ascension Day, 5/30 – Thursday, 7:30 pm; a service of Evensong to celebrate the Risen Christ’s return to God the Father.
Family Service, 6/2 – Celebrate our Confirmands, Birthday & Anniversary Prayers, Children’s Homily.
Pentecost, 6/9 – the giving of the Holy Spirit. We’ll hear the Gospel in a number of different languages, and renew our Baptismal Covenant.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Vacation Bible School - for Kids, Adults, & Families: Aslan is on the Move. Sun. 6/23 – Thur. 6/27, 6:00-8:30 pm. Based on The Chronicles of Narnia, this will be an inter-generational experience, fun for all ages. Pick up a flyer/registration form in the Narthex.
Bible Study this week, Wed. at 10:15 am in the Rath House. We’ll discuss Chapter 5 of Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense by N.T. Wright. Copies of the book are available on the table on the Narthex. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.
Crossroads, our camp & retreat center (Episcopal/Lutheran) in Port Murray, NJ, has programs for kids’ summer camp, family camp, and some year round retreats and programs. New brochures are in the Narthex. Take a look!
Celebrating the Newly Confirmed, June 2 – On May 4th Jess Gillespie and Kara Phillips were Confirmed by Bishop Carlye Hughes. This afternoon Abigail Saitta will be Confirmed. At the 10 am service on June 2nd we will celebrate and give thanks for these young people and this important step they have made in their faith and life. Please be on hand to do so.
Next Sunday’s Gospel Box
May 19, Easter 5 – John 13:31-35
At the Last Supper Jesus gave us a new commandment: to love one another. It is by this that the world will know that we are Jesus’ disciples. How can you practice loving others in our parish family? Is that easy or hard? What can you do to work on it?
May 26, Easter 6 – John 14:23-29
Jesus told the disciples that when he returns to the Father he will send us another Advocate – one who speaks on our behalf, referring to the Holy Spirit. How do imagine or experience the Holy Spirit? The readings for each Sunday can be found by going to www.thelectionarypage.net and clicking on the date.
THY KINGDOM COME
From Ascension to Pentecost (5/30-6/9), the Archbishop of Canterbury has called us to join with Anglicans/Episcopalians and other Christians throughout the world to pray for God’s kingdom to come “on earth as it is in heaven.” One way to do this is to pray daily for five people in your life to know the love of God in Jesus Christ, as well as praying for a blessing for our communities, that they will reflect God’s wholeness, peace, and justice. Mother Vicki will host a Facebook Live Prayer Event at 5:45 pm each day of the prayer effort. Information about how to join the Event, as well as print prayer resources, are available in the Narthex.
In the meantime, here’s a link to the website: https://www.thykingdomcome.global/about-us
STEWARDSHIP
Care of Creation - God has made a good and beautiful Creation, and we are called to be faithful stewards of it. In this Easter season we celebrate the redemption of all that God has made, and it is important to consider how we are caring for Creation. If you are interested in exploring ways that we at All Saints’ can be better stewards of Creation close to home, please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex and we’ll find a time to gather and discuss ideas. You can also look here for Episcopal Church resources: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/creation-care
ISO (in search of) Missing Chairs – have you ever borrowed folding chairs from the Parish House for an event at home? Maybe you put them in your garage or basement to return them at a convenient time? We are missing both brown and blue folding chairs and hope they are at your house. If you find them, please bring them back, no questions asked. Chair amnesty for all! Thanks.
ShopRite Cards – everyone needs groceries! You may purchase ShopRite cards as a gift or for yourself on Sundays during Coffee House or at the parish office. You pay face value and 5% goes to All Saints’ ministries. Purchase with check or cash. Please speak to Barbara Barbeau.
DIOCESAN NEWS
There is a new senior staff member at Episcopal House. The Rev. Margo Peckham Clark has joined the Bishop’s staff as the Canon for Congregational Life. She comes to our diocese from the Diocese of Long Island, where she served as the Rector of Trinity Church, Roslyn. We look forward to her ministry and getting to know her. Welcome Canon Margo!
The Voice Online, our diocesan newsletter, can be found here... including Bishop Carlye’s most recent video blog (vlog): https://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-VOICE-Online--Confirmations--expectations--and-a-farewell.html?soid=1102692382496&aid=lIN82KewAGA
The Rev. Richard Wrede – we have received word that Richard Wrede, All Saints’ 4th Rector (1994-2000), is retiring from active ministry. He has most recently been serving at Christ Church, Riverton, NJ. Congratulations and blessings to Richard, Anne, and Katie!
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Great Swamp Great Music Festival - Sunday, June 9, 12:00-5:00 PM, Historic Hartley Farms Polo Field, 9 Hartley Farms Rd., Morristown, NJ. Get ready for an exciting, family-friendly afternoon of live, outdoor music at our 2nd Annual Music Festival. Set up under the tent or in the field. Check out the vendors and enjoy a variety of tasty food, fresh squeezed lemonade, and adult beverages. Children 13 and under are free. For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.greatswamp.org/event/music-festival-2019-tickets/ or call 973-538-3500.
PARISH CALENDAR
5/21 Vestry Rath House, 7:30 pm
5/22 Bible Study Rath House, 10:15 am
5/23 Eucharist & Healing Church, 7:00 am
Junior Choir Choir Room, 5:15 pm
Adult Choir Choir Room 7:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Formation – Christians are made, not born – except ‘born again by water and the Holy Spirit’. That means we need to be intentional in how we go about becoming Jesus’ followers. We used to talk about ‘Christian Education’, meaning Sunday School and any adult classes or discussion groups. Those are important, but they don’t do the whole job.
Becoming a whole, grown-up Christian is not only about information we have received, about what we know. There are many things that shape us, and in many ways – hence the word ‘formation.’ The way we pray, the frequency with which we gather for worship, the music we sing and hear, the conversations we have, the silence we keep, the way we pay attention to God’s creation, the way we serve others and see Christ in them, the diligence with which we read Scripture and learn the basics of theology, the ways we receive love and compassion from others, the ways we play together, the ways we seek to do God’s justice – all of these form us and shape us to be the people God created us to be, in God’s own image.
It is good to know what helps us to feel most in touch with God – what we are drawn to naturally. But it is equally good to challenge ourselves sometimes – because that is often where spiritual growth will come.
To what are you naturally drawn in Christian life? In what way might the Holy Spirit be challenging you?
Blessings, Vicki+